*MR. LONG: I regret to say that two TRUNK TELEPHONE WIRES. outbreaks of pleuro-pneumonia have MR. A. D. PROVAND (Glasgow, recently occurred, one near Rochford in Blackfriars): I beg to ask the Secretary Essex, and another at Mile End. In the to the Treasury, as representing the latter case, which is that to which the Postmaster General, whether the achon. Member specially refers, the counts relating to the Post Office diseased animal had been purchased at Trunk Telephone wires will be kept the Islington Market and sent to a marsh separate, and regular Returns issued at Barking and from thence to the showing the amounts expended on conslaughter-house at Mile End, where it struction, on maintenance, for working was discovered. My veterinary advisers expenses, and the gross and net earnings, are well acquainted with the system of with statistics of the business done? inoculation as practised in the colonies, and I do not think that any further inquiries respecting it are necessary.

DR. FARQUHARSON: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his scientific advisers have endeavoured to trace the source of infection, and whether he will communicate the result of their inquiries to the House?

MR. HANBURY: A separate account is kept of the money advanced in respect of trunk telephone wires under the Telegraph Act, 1892, and the account for the year 1894-5 will be found on page 583 of the Appropriation Accounts. The maintenance and working expenses cannot be separated from those of the telegraph service, but a statement of the gross earnings and statistics of the busi

*MR. LONG: Certainly, we have instituted the most careful inquiries ness done can at any time be given if in connection with the outbreak, and necessary. have endeavoured to trace the source of the infection. I shall be perfectly prepared to give the information asked for when the inquiries are completed.

MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.): May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the serious outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia in Essex, he will accelerate the Diseases of Animals Bill so as to minimise the risk of further infection?

*MR. LONG: Certainly, I will do my best to accelerate the passage of that Bill, because agriculturists in this country will resent the severe restrictions placed on them unless they are permanently protected from risk from

outside.

SIR J. KINLOCH (Perthshire, E.): May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he intends to have all animals suspected of having come. within the infection slaughtered?

*MR. LONG: All the animals which could be discovered as having been in contact, so far, had been slaughtered.

MR. A. J. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside): Is there any ground for the suggestion that in this case contagion came from outside?

*MR. LONG: If the right hon. Gentleman had informed himself of the facts he would have known that that could not be so.

MATABELELAND.

MR. HENRY LABOUCHERE (Northampton): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether his attention has been called to the fact that the villages of the natives of Matabeleland are being burnt by the forces of the Chartered Company, and that a farmer, on quitting his homestead, with fuses attached, which exploded left a considerable amount of dynamite, when the homestead was filled with natives, killing about 100; whether such proceedings are in accordance with the usages of war; and, if not, whether he will take steps to prevent their recurtaken, either by communication with the whether rence; any steps have been terms with the officials of the Company, chiefs of the natives remaining on friendly or with those in arms against the Company, to ascertain what is the object of the present rising, and what alteration in the relations between the Company and the natives would lead to a modus vivendi between both; whether he is aware how many Martini-Henry rifles are in the possession of the natives, and how these were obtained; and, whether there was any importation of such rifles into Matabeleland, in connection with the Jameson raid, which have fallen into the hands of the natives ?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR misapprehension, I may add that Her THE COLONIES (MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Majesty's Government are decidedly of Birmingham): The burning of the kraals opinion that, except in a case of the of a native enemy is in accordance with the usages of South African warfare. I have no information of the reported explosion of dynamite in a farmhouse, but, if true, it does not differ materially from mining operations in a siege or the use of a torpedo in naval warfare. The Company's officers and a courageous Catholic clergyman, who is mentioned in this morning's papers, have been in communication with those of the Matabele who are friendly or inclined to submit; but

the moment seems premature or un-
favourable for a general parley with
those who are determinedly hostile. At
all events, it is a matter which must be
left to those on the spot. I do not know
what number of Martini-Henry rifles the
Matabele possess.
They probably ob-
tained the bulk of them by barter or
purchase in former years, when they
were regarded as friendly to the British.
I have no reason to believe that any
such rifles were imported into Matabele-
land in connection with the Jameson
raid, or that, if such were the case, any
of them fell into the hands of the Mata-
bele. I may add that the arms of the
Chartered Company are Lee - Metford
rifles, and it appears that the rifles in
the hands of the Matabele are not of
that kind.

SIR E. ASHMEAD - BARTLETT

(Sheffield, Ecclesall) asked whether Her
Majesty's Government had decided to
send an
additional military force to
South Africa, and, if so, what troops
were to go?

as

greatest emergency, Imperial troops are not the best suited to put down a native dealt with by local forces. This opinion insurrection, which can be most promptly has been confirmed by past experience in South Africa, and is held universally by all the most competent authorities in South Africa and this country. There is an ample supply of men and arms at present in South Africa, and the only difficulty is in connection with transport and the provision of horses.

SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT: In

reference to the latter portion of that answer, connected with the ability of the colonial troops for the purpose of dealing with the rising in Matabeleland, I should like to ask whether the Government have authorised the recruitment of an additional number of Colonial troops for that purpose-additional to the amount stated by the right hon. Gentleman the other day?

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: No, Sir; we have not been asked by the local authorities to authorise any additional number to those already announced. We are perfectly prepared to do so if in the opinion of the local authorities such an increase is necessary.

MR. LABOUCHERE: At the cost, I suppose, of the Chartered Company?

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: Yes, undoubtedly.

MR. RADCLIFFE COOKE (Hereford): May I ask whether an offer has been received from our Australian colonists

*MR. SPEAKER : Order, order! That does not arise out of this Question.

SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT: On

MR. CHAMBERLAIN: Her Majesty's Government have decided to replace the troops which Sir H. Robinson has withdrawn from the seaboard colonies and ordered into the interior. Accordingly a battalion of the Line-the 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment-and a point of order I wish to ask you, Sir, a body of cavalry or mounted infantry whether it would not be in order upon will be dispatched to South Africa this Question to ask whether an offer has soon as possible. This movement is conbeen made on the part of the Australian nected with the decision of the Govern- colonists in the Transvaal to go to the ment to make a permanent increase in assistance of the colonists in Matabeleland? the garrison of the Cape, a step which has been urged upon them by the Mili- *MR. SPEAKER: Of course such a tary authorities, who are of opinion that question with proper notice is perfectly the present garrison is not adequate to in order. The objection I took just now the defence of the dockyard and coaling was that it does not arise out of this stations. To prevent the possibility of Question.

CARRICKMACROSS UNION.

of health of Patrick Nalty and Michael Walsh, and that one of these men died in gaol and the other a fortnight before his release was due?

*MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! That does not arise out of the Question on the Paper.

AFFAIRS AT ANTIOCH.

MR. DALY: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) if he is aware that the relieving officer of Carrickmacross Union reported to the guardians of that union that a case, in which he represented the guardians under the Public Health Act, was dismissed by the magistrates at Petty Sessions, Carrickmacross, on 20th March 1896, on the ground that the MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire): guardians should be represented by a I beg to ask the Under Secretary of solicitor; (2) will he state who was the State for Foreign Affairs, whether he chairman on that occasion; and, (3) if can confirm the report that Turkish no solicitor is needed in such cases, will troops have surrounded the Irish Mishe call the attention of the Lord sion and native Christians at Antioch; Chancellor of Ireland to the matter? whether a massacre is apprehended; MR. GERALD BALFOUR: The whether any British war ships are in facts appear to be as stated in the first the Gulf of Antioch; and, whether, in paragraph. The Chairman occasion was Mr. Gibbings, a local magistrate. I understand that it is not necessary under the 257th Section of the Public Health Act that the guardians should be represented by a solicitor in such cases, but I am making further inquiries into the matter and have also asked to be informed whether the Relieving Officer had been authorised to represent the Guardians in the manner prescribed by the Section of the Act referred to.

MARYBOROUGH PRISON.

on the the event of massacres, they are at liberty to take on board refugees?

(Kil

*MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN kenny): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether, considering that the boy James Morry, confined in Maryborough Prison, has been so long in hospital, and is in a dying state, he will allow of his removal to the county infirmary, where he could be visited by his aged mother?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: I have again communicated with the authorities in Dublin in reference to the case of this convict, and have nothing to add to the reply given by me to the similar question put to me yesterday to the effect that his life is not, at present, considered to be in danger. The condition of this prisoner will continue to be very closely watched by both the Medical Member of the Prisons Board and by the Local Medical Officer.

*MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that similar reports were made about the condition

MR. CURZON: Reinforcements of Turkish troops were recently sent to the Antioch district for the purpose of arresting certain agitators who were said to be exciting the villagers to rise against the Government. Information has since been received that about 15 revolutionists have been surrendered to the Turkish authorities by the Armenian villagers without resistance, and that the difficulty was almost settled. There appears to be no reason to apprehend a massacre. One of Her Majesty's vessels was stationed for a short time in the Gulf of Antioch, and arrangements have been made for occasional visits. With regard to taking refugees on board Her Majesty's ships, the Commanding Officers are guided by Rules laid down in the "Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions." These are, however, I am afraid, too long to admit of being fairly summarised in reply to a Question.

REGISTRATION OF TITLES (IRELAND).

MR. N. K. SHEE (Waterford, W.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether the Irish Land Commission, in pursuance of a circular issued to that effect in December 1892, has completed or is in course of completing the registration of the title of all purchasers, under the Land Purchase Acts, who applied to the Commission direct for the purpose; and (2) whether, in the cases where purchasers employed legal assistance to

lodge similar applications at the same the Veterinary Department. The local time, the Land Commission will com- authorities are empowered by an Order plete the registration of the titles if so in Council to make regulations for the requested by such purchasers, without muzzling of dogs in their respective disexpense to them, in the same way as tricts, and the Veterinary Department has been done for those purchasers has used every effort to induce the local who threw the entire onus of the authorities to exercise their powers. registration of their titles on the Land Circulars were issued to the local authoriCommission? ties in July and September 1895, and MR. GERALD BALFOUR: Owing again in February last, pressing them to to the difficulty of obtaining information adopt a Uniform Code of Muzzling Regufrom the parties, the Land Commis-lations, and a specimen set of Regulasioners, up to the present, have only tions was sent for their guidance. been able to perfect the registration in Regulations are at present in force in 83 some 3,500 of the cases referred to in Unions. It is hoped that the remaining the first paragraph. In about 1,500 local authorities may be induced to make cases the forms of application prepared similar regulations, and thus secure, by and sent to the parties have not been their voluntary action, the desired returned to the Commissioners, although result.

they have repeatedly applied for them.

In the remaining cases the Commis

sioners are proceeding with all possible EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL CASES BILL. expedition. The inquiry in the second MR. H. D. GREENE (Shrewsbury): paragraph is properly one for the con- I beg to ask the Secretary of State for sideration of the Treasury, and should the Home Department, whether Her be addressed to my right hon. Friend Majesty's Government will invite Her the Secretary of that Department, but Majesty's Judges, at their approaching I may observe that the Commissioners annual council, to consider the alteraare not authorised to take up registration proceedings in the cases referred to.

tions of the Law proposed in the Evidence in Criminal Cases Bill, and report thereon to one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, as provided by the Judicature Act?

LABOURERS (IRELAND) ACTS. MR. SHEE: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ire-I land, whether the promised Bill for the amendment of the Labourers (Ireland) Acts is yet ready for introduction; and, if so, when it will be introduced?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: I am afraid I cannot at present add anything to the reply given by me on the 20th March to the hon. Member for West Cavan on this subject.

SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY:

have not had an opportunity of consulting the Lord Chancellor; but even if the Act provided for alterations in the Law being referred by the Government to the Council of the Judges, which it does not do, I can hardly think it possible, or desirable, that a Government Measure which has already passed one House of Parliament should be so referred.

RABIES.

TROOPS IN SOUTH AFRICA. MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD - BARTW.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary LETT: I beg to ask the Secretary of to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, State for the Colonies, whether Her whether, in view of the prevalence of Majesty's Government have decided to rabies and of the frequent cases of send an additional Military force to hydrophobia in various parts of Ireland, South Africa; and, if so, what troops he will urge upon the Lord Lieutenant are to go? the necessity of issuing a general muzzling order for the whole of Ireland?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR: The prevalence of rabies has engaged, for some time past, the serious attention of Mr. N. K. Shee,

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: Her Majesty's Government have decided to replace the troops which Sir H. Robinson has withdrawn from the seaboard Colonies and ordered into the interior.

for Ireland. Accordingly, a battalion of the Line and Petition case as to their want of power a body of Mounted Infantry will be to require extra security for costs when, dispatched to South Africa as soon as in their opinion, a case has been unduly possible. This movement is connected prolonged; and, whether in view of with the decision of the Government to these remarks and in view of the length make a permanent increase in the of the proceedings in the case of the garrison of the Cape, a step which has St. George's Election Petition, he can been urged upon them by the Military see his way to propose some remedial Authorities, who are of opinion that the legislation by which any proceeding of present garrison is not adequate to the similar or undue length can be prevented defences of the Dockyard and Coaling in future cases, and some legislation to Stations. To prevent the possibility of modify the Law relating to Elections? misapprehension, I may add that Her Majesty's Government are decidedly of opinion that, except in a case of the greatest emergency, Imperial troops are not the best suited to put down a native insurrection, which can be most promptly dealt with by local forces. This opinion has been confirmed by past experience in South Africa, and is held universally by all the most competent authorities in South Africa and this country. There is an ample supply of men and arms at present in South Africa, and the only difficulty is in connection with transport and the provision of horses.

MAIL CONTRACTS.

MR. PROVAND: I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, the date on which the notice asking for tenders for the East India, China, and Australia mail contracts was circulated, to whom it was sent, and whether it was advertised in any newspapers; and, if so, in which?

MR. HANBURY: A notice inviting tenders for the East India, China, and Australia mail contracts was circulated on the 8th instant for exhibition at the principal outports. It has also been inserted day after day in the Post Office Daily List, and it was advertised in the undermentioned Newspapers: Times, Standard, Daily News, Shipping and Mercantile Gazette and Lloyd's List, Liverpool Courier, Scotsman, Glasgow Herald, Dundee Advertiser, Southampton Times, Greenock Herald, and the Con

tract Journal.

ELECTION PETITIONS (COSTS). MR. J. A. RENTOUL (Down, E.): I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General whether his attention has been called to the remarks of the Judges in the latest Election

VOL. XXXIX. [FOURTH SERIES.]

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER, Isle of Wight): I am communicating with the learned Judges upon the subject of the recent Election Petitions, and as to possible amendments of the law in the direction indicated by the hon. and learned Member and by other hon. Members in previous questions which have been addressed to me.

MAJOR LOTHAIRE.

COLONEL SAUNDERSON (Armagh, N.) I wish to ask my right hon. Friend the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs. a Question of which I have given him private notice-namely, whether he can give the House any information with regard to the statement which has appeared in the papers that Major Lothaire, the murderer of the Irishman Stokes ["Oh, oh!" and "Hear, hear!"] has been tried and acquitted at Boma ?

MR. CURZON: We have received no telegraphic Dispatch from our ViceConsul at Boma, who is taking an official part in the proceedings. I can, therefore, only conclude that the information in the newspaper, if not incorrect, is at any rate premature.

CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND.

MR. J. DILLON: I want to ask the First Lord of the Treasury a Question in connection with the Votes on the Paper to-night-namely, whether he will consent to adjourn the Debate on the Vote for the Chief Secretary after an hour or so of Debate, to another day later in the Session; or if the right hon. Gentleman cannot consent to that, whether he will put off the Vote for the Irish Chief Secretary and proceed with the other Votes?

3 G